Velas Turtle Festival is all about an Olive Ridley turtles which are going to be endangered species if we don’t work on it right now. Hence, Velas Turtle Festival is held by an NGO (SNMC). I will be sharing all info below in my Blog. Be patient, if you want to know all about Olive Ridley Turtles and Velas Beach Turtle Festival. Here is the detailed travel guide for your tour planning and plotting. If you don’t want to plan and want to join group tours of Small Steps Adventures then directly visit – Velas Turtle Festival dates to opt for.

Running towards the Sea

Velas Turtle Festival Information

Velas is a beach on the western coast of Maharashtra State in India, where the fest is organized annually. The Velas Turtle Festival dates are not fixed as it depends on the eggs laid by Female Turtles. Mostly, it is in the month of March. Velas Beach Turtle Festival is organized by Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra(SNMC) which decides the annual fest dates and share with tour operators like Small Steps Adventures.

Turtle Festival

The Major attraction of Velas turtle festival is that the sightings of baby turtles coming out of the egg and running towards the sea. This part of the event is the most exciting. This happens approximately for an hour in the morning and evening daily during this period. Apart from the hatching session, you are a free bird to explore the beach but not near the area where turtles entered into the sea. SNMC arranges a video session at night for all visitors with detailed info about the fest and turtles of Velas Beach to generate awareness.

Velas Beach Turtle Festival Dates

Important Note for Velas Turtle Festival:

The Sightings of a baby turtle is on pure luck. Visitors are requested to follow announced dates as they are predicted by an NGO with the constant study.

Every turtle hatched out of egg goes back into the sea on the same day. Hatching happens twice in a day i.e. in the morning and evening. Timings are Morning 7 – 7:30 AM and Evening 6 – 6:30 PM.

Velas Beach Turtle Festival

Sunset at Velas Beach

Velas Beach Stay

Velas Turtle Festival is a 2D/1N tour from Mumbai and Pune. Thus, making it the best weekend getaway during the end of winter. You can directly drive down to the destination else you can opt for group tours of SSA. There are no luxury hotels or Delux rooms for Velas Beach Stay.

Mesmerizing View

Thousands of people visit every year and accommodation is a big challenge. But, a local committee is more organized and make sure Velas Beach Stay is comfortable at various Local Homestay options available at Velas Beach. Velas is hamlet with limited resources, not much developed as a tourist destination. All Velas Beach Stays are on sharing basis only to make arrangement for all visitors of Velas Turtle Festival.

Don’t Expect Luxury.

Olive Ridley Turtles

Olive Ridley Turtles are mostly found in the Pacific & Indian oceans. Apart from Velas beach, these turtles lay egg on few beaches of GOA, Chennai & Odisha. Roughly, it measures 60-70 cms and weighs around 50 KGs. Surprisingly, it was noted that there was a 30% decrease in the population of Olive Ridley turtles in the last generation. Nowadays, these turtles are considered endangered because of their few remaining nesting sites in the Indian subcontinent.

Olive Ridley Turtles – Sightings during Velas Beach Turtle Festival

Photography at Velas Beach

Velas Beach

The Velas beach is blessed with the immense natural beauty as it is one of the top virgin Konkan Beaches. Velas Beach is very clean and tall green line of coconut trees along the coast adds a flavor of natural peace. The air that blows your hair around and rustles the leaves is one kind of breeze of Velas Beach. During the Velas turtle festival, Velas beach attracts a crowd in thousands to watch those baby turtles taking birth.

Velas Beach Fun

Bankot Fort

Bankot Fort is a very old coastal fort. After conquering, it was renamed as Himmatgad by Marathas. Later, after the fall of Suvarnadurga, the British changed the name to Fort Victoria. Bankot fort used to hold the commanding position on the traditional trade route of Savitri River.

Approximately, it takes half an hour to reach the entrance of the fort. There is a wide and safe route to reach the top of the fort. There are two entrance gate & one Nagarkhana from where Savitri river is visible. A beautiful piece of history can be explored on Bankot Fort. On the Velas Turtle Festival tour, you will be visiting Bankot Fort on day one of the Eco-tour.

Harihareshwar Beach & Temple

There are two adjacent temples, one is Kalbhairoba Temple on Harihareshwar Beach should be visited first before visiting the main Shiv Linga. There are two Beaches with pristine beauty.

Harihareshwar

Certainly, it is the most preferred destination for Punekars. Harihareshwar beach is less crowded and one can relax in a natural ambiance to make a weekend trip amazing. Thus, it makes the best weekend destination for tourist from all over Maharashtra. On the second day of the tour, Harihareshwar Temples and beach exploration is planned by the majority of the tour operators.

Konkan Special – Harihareshwar Beach

To summarize, Velas Turtle Festival is one of kind experience that one should have once in a lifetime. But, make sure you check the Velas Turtle Festival dates and then visit the Velas beach. As there are no hotels, your stay will be in rural Velas Beach Stay Homes on sharing basis during the Festival.

Just an Indian Travel Blogger. I left my corporate job & IT business to explore locations and adventure activities. Now, my job is to travel to unique destinations. Sometimes I lead adventure trips of Small Steps Adventures. You can join SSA trips or you can virtually experience those tours through my Blogs. I am always ready to hear from you. Drop me a comment. Share your experiences. You can be in touch with me on Instagram @thewandereryogi.

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About Me

Just an Indian Travel Blogger. I left my corporate job to do IT business. IT business failed miserably. Before arising question of what to do next, adventure bug already bitten me. Later, I started to explore locations and adventure activities. Formed an adventure company – Small Steps Adventures. Now my full-time job is to travel to unique destinations. Sometimes I lead adventure trips of Small Steps Adventures. You can join SSA trips or you can virtually experience those tours through my Blogs. I am always ready to hear from you. Drop me a comment. Share your experiences. You can be in touch with me on Instagram @thewandereryogi.